Samsung Sued By Brazilian Government For Labor Violations

Apple isn’t the only one taking Samsung to court; it seems the Brazilian government also has a bone to pick with the South Korean behemoth. In Samsung’s haste to churn out device after device, one of the company’s plants may have grossly overworked its employees—and Samsung could pay.

According to a Guardian report, Brazil’s labor ministry is suing Samsung over “serious” labor violations at the company’s Manaus factory, where workers were supposedly being subjected to 15 hour work days, among other things. Prosecutors are seeking $108 million in damages, which would presumably go toward the workers affected in the suit.

The suit claims over 2,000 workers at the Manaus factory experienced work-related health problems in 2012 because of poor working conditions. Since prosecutors only cite issues from last year, it’s unclear whether or not conditions have improved at the Brazilian-based factory. In response to the allegations, Samsung said in a statement that it will conduct a thorough review and cooperate with authorities.

“We take great care to provide a workplace environment that assures the highest industry standards of health, safety, and welfare for our employees across the world,” Samsung said.

Samsung is no stranger to lawsuits. It recently lost a case with Apple that could see the ban of several (older) devices into the U.S., while President Obama also overturned a separate ban in a case that the Korean company won against the iPhone maker. According to the Guardian report, Samsung is also facing accusation in China for hiring underage workers, along with countless suits in its home country over poor working conditions.